Solomon has something to say about the relationship between wisdom and wealth, between foolishness and poverty. Not everyone who is wise will become wealthy by the world's standards, but the one who is wise with money will have his daily needs met. Not everyone who is morally and spiritually reprobate (translated as foolish in the Bible) will be destitute, but the odds are much higher, plus he will be destitute in his soul because he is so far from God. Solomon also has quite a bit to say today about the contrast between the words of the wise and the words of the foolish. We can use our tongues for godly words or for evil words. The wise person will make the correct choice.
"The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor." (Proverbs 10:15) Wealth builds the type of hedge around a person that cushions him from many of the worries and troubles the poor endure. I don't think Solomon is trying to exalt wealth but is simply giving some practical advice. If we work hard and are careful with our money we will have fewer things to worry about in the middle of the night. Granted, there are things that happen to us that we can't avoid, such as a job layoff, but while we have work we should save any money we might have left over at the end of each month because someday it might be needed. Solomon would consider this responsible money management, saving what we can for a rainy day.
Solomon grew up with wealth and he used that wealth to accrue even more, so we might be tempted to feel he can't understand the plight of those of us who have to get up and go to work every morning just to keep the light bill paid and to put food on the table. But this next verse proves that, although he may never have experienced an empty bank account, he has experienced an empty soul. There is more to being wise than he understood during his youth and middle age. Now, as an older man, he realizes that the most important wages we can earn are the wages of righteousness. There is no poverty worse than the poverty of the soul, and he ought to know because he's been there. "The wages of the righteous is life, but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death." (Proverbs 10:16) Knowing the Lord imputes the righteousness of Christ upon us, which gives us eternal life because He paid the price of our sins for us. But rejecting the Lord leaves us in our sins, and we will pay the price alone.
"Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray." (Proverbs 10:17) The people around us watch how we live. If we are obedient to God's word and to His correction when we mess up, that sets a godly example for others to follow. But if we have a pattern of rushing into the same old sins over and over, and if we display double-mindedness and weakness, they might conclude that it's okay for them to participate in sins too. It's bad enough when we make a mistake, but if we are wise we will learn from it and avoid it in the future. But if we make the same mistake time and time again, never heeding the Lord's word, never learning anything, others may be enticed into the same sin.
Now the king moves on to discussing the power of the tongue. "Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool." (Proverbs 10:18) Solomon says, "Don't be two-faced! Don't pretend to be someone's friend and then talk about them behind their back. Gossip is an ugly thing. Even if the information you've heard about someone is true, you're still gossiping when you repeat that information. You're doing it for your own sinful enjoyment." Amen! I couldn't agree more! A person once said to me, "It isn't gossip if it's true," but I reject that idea entirely. I've been the victim of gossip that was true and I can tell you it was every bit as hurtful as gossip that wasn't true. In fact, it might even have been more hurtful, because I can kind of shrug off rumors that aren't true. I can rest securely in my integrity, knowing I didn't do it. But when someone gossips about a mistake I made or about a mistake a close family member made, what defense do I have? If you've ever had someone gossip about you, someone you trusted and considered a good friend, you know what a betrayal it is. Solomon says, "Don't be a 'frenemy'. A true friend will pray for someone who has made a mistake. A true friend will keep quiet about what they've heard."
The last three verses we will look at today go along with verse 18 above. The tongue can be used for good or for evil, to build people up or to tear them down. Solomon feels it's best to do more listening than talking, for sin often enters into the picture when we chatter constantly. "Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues." (Proverbs 10:19) This is a hard verse for me because I'm a chatty kind of person. According to family and friends of the family, I started saying my first clear words at an unusually young age for a baby and my dad used to joke that I had never stopped talking since. In fact, he often laughingly cautioned me that I was going to sunburn my tongue if I didn't stay quiet for a little while. Being chatty has helped me make friends and has been beneficial in working with the public all of my adult life, but it definitely has its downside. I sometimes speak before I think. I have agreed to things that I later wished I hadn't. There have been times when my mouth got so far ahead of my brain that my words came out in unintended ways. I couldn't tell you how many times I've heard things coming out of my mouth that I just wanted to kick myself for. So yes, Solomon is absolutely correct, sin is not ended by multiplying words. Sin is multiplied by multiplying words.
"The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value." (Proverbs 10:20) If we placed both a human tongue and a human heart on the scales we would expect the heart to weigh more. But spiritually speaking it doesn't always work that way. The righteous tongue carries more weight than the wicked heart. A wicked heart is useless; nothing good comes from it. But a righteous tongue is valuable because it speaks words of life. It helps those who have lost their way. It encourages those who are down. It shares the gospel, and what could be more valuable than that?
"The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense." (Proverbs 10:21) Godly words have the power to sustain others. They are like water for the thirsty and food for the hungry. But foolish and ungodly words lack any power to help.
I want to be the type of person whose words are able to help others, don't you? The better we know our Redeemer and the more we study the word of God, the more valuable our words will be. We can comfort those who are hurting and encourage those who are in despair. Most of all, we can share the gospel with those who desperately need to know they are deeply loved by a God who was willing to die for them.
Friday, June 16, 2017
Thursday, June 15, 2017
Counseled By The King: The Proverbs Of Solomon. Day 22, Honesty Is The Best Policy
In today's passage Solomon contrasts the results of wise and honest living with the results of unwise and deceitful living.
"The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin." (Proverbs 10:8) If we are wise we will accept correction and instruction. We will grow and improve. But if we talk all the time and never listen we will learn nothing. Some scholars think the "chattering" mentioned here may indicate talking back disrespectfully or scornfully.
"Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out." (Proverbs 10:9) When we live honest lives we don't have to fear our sins being discovered. We can go about our business without anxiety. But the one who lives dishonestly must always be on the alert. Time is taken up with concealing sins, and there is the constant feeling of anxiety that these sins will be found out.
"Whoever winks maliciously causes grief, and a chattering fool comes to ruin." (Proverbs 10:10) Solomon says its equally bad to be a deceitful person or to be a person who refuses to listen to the truth. A deceiver causes grief to everyone around him, and eventually to himself as well. The chattering fool keeps on going down a path where the bridge is out because he ignored the warnings. Disaster will soon come upon him.
"The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence." (Proverbs 10:11) Wisdom and instruction pour from the mouth of the one who knows God. That person is able to speak words of comfort and encouragement. But lies pour from the mouth of the wicked. This person says one thing but means another.
"Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs." (Proverbs 10:12) Have you ever known anyone who seemed to thrive on conflict? Have you ever met a person who enjoyed stirring things up and making people angry at each other? Have you ever known someone who remembers every little thing people have ever said or done to him and refuses to forgive anything at all? Solomon says this attitude comes from a lack of love in the heart. The Apostle Peter backs him up by telling us that love helps us overlook and forgive the mistakes of others, "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:8) Love tells us that we aren't perfect ourselves, yet Christ forgave us because He loves us. How then can we refuse to love and forgive our fellow man?
"Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense." (Proverbs 10:13) The wise person will not say or do anything that will cause him to end up before a judge and be sentenced to a public beating. In ancient times there were various crimes for which a person might be sentenced to a beating before being released back into society. This was both humiliating and painful, so Solomon says, "If you are a sensible person you won't end up in this position. You won't do anything dishonest. Then you won't be found out and humiliated."
"The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of the fool invites ruin." (Proverbs 10:14) The author of Psalm 119, who is believed by many scholars to have been King David, has something to say about storing up knowledge, "I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." (Psalm 119:11) It's hard to obey God's commands if we don't know them. It's hard to take comfort from the Scriptures if we haven't memorized any of them. Solomon is saying, "Spend more time listening than talking. Take your religious instruction to heart. Memorize God's word. It will be there to help you when you need it. But the fool who chatters all the time will learn nothing. He only wants to hear the sound of his own voice. He doesn't want to hear the word of God. This will cause him to make many foolish mistakes." The Lord's brother James takes us a step further by saying, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." (James 1:22) The wise person will hear the word of God and put it into practice. It doesn't sanctify us simply to sit in church for an hour and hear the Bible recited. We must accept and believe the word and then go and live it out. God's word is living and active. (Hebrews 4:12) It will guide us wherever we go.
"The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin." (Proverbs 10:8) If we are wise we will accept correction and instruction. We will grow and improve. But if we talk all the time and never listen we will learn nothing. Some scholars think the "chattering" mentioned here may indicate talking back disrespectfully or scornfully.
"Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out." (Proverbs 10:9) When we live honest lives we don't have to fear our sins being discovered. We can go about our business without anxiety. But the one who lives dishonestly must always be on the alert. Time is taken up with concealing sins, and there is the constant feeling of anxiety that these sins will be found out.
"Whoever winks maliciously causes grief, and a chattering fool comes to ruin." (Proverbs 10:10) Solomon says its equally bad to be a deceitful person or to be a person who refuses to listen to the truth. A deceiver causes grief to everyone around him, and eventually to himself as well. The chattering fool keeps on going down a path where the bridge is out because he ignored the warnings. Disaster will soon come upon him.
"The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence." (Proverbs 10:11) Wisdom and instruction pour from the mouth of the one who knows God. That person is able to speak words of comfort and encouragement. But lies pour from the mouth of the wicked. This person says one thing but means another.
"Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs." (Proverbs 10:12) Have you ever known anyone who seemed to thrive on conflict? Have you ever met a person who enjoyed stirring things up and making people angry at each other? Have you ever known someone who remembers every little thing people have ever said or done to him and refuses to forgive anything at all? Solomon says this attitude comes from a lack of love in the heart. The Apostle Peter backs him up by telling us that love helps us overlook and forgive the mistakes of others, "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:8) Love tells us that we aren't perfect ourselves, yet Christ forgave us because He loves us. How then can we refuse to love and forgive our fellow man?
"Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense." (Proverbs 10:13) The wise person will not say or do anything that will cause him to end up before a judge and be sentenced to a public beating. In ancient times there were various crimes for which a person might be sentenced to a beating before being released back into society. This was both humiliating and painful, so Solomon says, "If you are a sensible person you won't end up in this position. You won't do anything dishonest. Then you won't be found out and humiliated."
"The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of the fool invites ruin." (Proverbs 10:14) The author of Psalm 119, who is believed by many scholars to have been King David, has something to say about storing up knowledge, "I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." (Psalm 119:11) It's hard to obey God's commands if we don't know them. It's hard to take comfort from the Scriptures if we haven't memorized any of them. Solomon is saying, "Spend more time listening than talking. Take your religious instruction to heart. Memorize God's word. It will be there to help you when you need it. But the fool who chatters all the time will learn nothing. He only wants to hear the sound of his own voice. He doesn't want to hear the word of God. This will cause him to make many foolish mistakes." The Lord's brother James takes us a step further by saying, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." (James 1:22) The wise person will hear the word of God and put it into practice. It doesn't sanctify us simply to sit in church for an hour and hear the Bible recited. We must accept and believe the word and then go and live it out. God's word is living and active. (Hebrews 4:12) It will guide us wherever we go.
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Counseled By The King: The Proverbs Of Solomon. Day 21, The Good And The Bad
We are now beginning a section that is a collection of proverbs spoken by Solomon. Up til now the book of Proverbs has contained somewhat of a narrative, but today it changes into a series of short sentences that each contain one good thing and one bad thing. The right way to live and the wrong way to live are presented in each verse.
"The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother." (Proverbs 10:1) He says, "If you become a good man, my son, you will make me proud. But if not, you will cause your mother to cry." The opposite would also be true, that a wise son brings joy to his mother and causes grief to his father.
"Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death." (Proverbs 10:2) Dishonest living has the potential to shorten a person's life. Attempted robbery sometimes ends in the robber being killed by his intended victim. But the honest person need not fear such a fate.
"The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but He thwarts the craving of the wicked." (Proverbs 10:3) Some translations state that it is the soul of the righteous that the Lord will not allow to go hungry, and there is definitely truth in that. The one who hungers for the Lord will be satisfied. God will reward the one who seeks Him. But the wicked person craves things that are wrong, and even if he obtains them he will not be satisfied. I think, though, there is also truth in the way the NIV renders this verse. The Lord has His eye on those who are His. He gives us each day our daily bread. As Solomon's father David once observed, "I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread." (Psalm 37:25)
"Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth." (Proverbs 10:4) Solomon inherited wealth but his hard work earned him plenty more. It wasn't his nature to be idle. It wasn't in his character to simply enjoy the fruits of his father's labors, for he considered it irresponsible not to make the money grow that had been entrusted to him.
"He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son." (Proverbs 10:5) As Solomon said in his book of Ecclesiastes, there is a time for every purpose. The wise person will perform the right duties at the right time. Crops which are not harvested at the proper time will rot in the fields, causing hunger when winter comes. A spirit of laziness will tell us it's okay to put things off, but this only leads to bigger problems.
"Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked." (Proverbs 10:6) Those who honor the Lord inherit blessings, while those who dishonor Him are done in by their own violence.
"The name of the righteous is used in blessings, but the name of the wicked will rot." (Proverbs 10:7) Bible scholar Henry Deane uses this example to explain verse 7, "Whoever thinks of naming a child Judas or Nero?" The name of the wicked becomes untouchable. Would we name a child Hitler, for example? Of course not, and in fact it's against the law in many countries to name a child after Hitler. But humans have a tendency to name children after someone they respect and admire, such as a mighty soldier of the faith. Just think how many people over the past several thousand years have named their sons after Moses or Abraham or David. Think of how many people have named their daughters Mary or Esther or Ruth. These are honorable names because they represent honorable people.
There are many things we might leave behind when we depart from this earth, but most of it is temporary and consumable, unlike our good name. Money will be spent by our heirs, and sometimes unwisely. Houses and lands will eventually end up being sold to someone outside the family. Personal items such as clothing tend to get thrown away or donated. Jewelry might be kept by our immediate heirs, but later generations will feel no sentimental value toward these items and will likely sell them. Our good name, though, endures long after all these other things are gone. I'd rather have it said of me, "She loved the Lord and served Him," than to have it said, "She made a lot of money and owned some nice stuff".
What kind of legacy do we want to leave behind? What will influence our descendants the most? What kind of example are we setting? We ought to live in such a way that the use of our name is like a blessing.
"The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother." (Proverbs 10:1) He says, "If you become a good man, my son, you will make me proud. But if not, you will cause your mother to cry." The opposite would also be true, that a wise son brings joy to his mother and causes grief to his father.
"Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death." (Proverbs 10:2) Dishonest living has the potential to shorten a person's life. Attempted robbery sometimes ends in the robber being killed by his intended victim. But the honest person need not fear such a fate.
"The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but He thwarts the craving of the wicked." (Proverbs 10:3) Some translations state that it is the soul of the righteous that the Lord will not allow to go hungry, and there is definitely truth in that. The one who hungers for the Lord will be satisfied. God will reward the one who seeks Him. But the wicked person craves things that are wrong, and even if he obtains them he will not be satisfied. I think, though, there is also truth in the way the NIV renders this verse. The Lord has His eye on those who are His. He gives us each day our daily bread. As Solomon's father David once observed, "I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread." (Psalm 37:25)
"Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth." (Proverbs 10:4) Solomon inherited wealth but his hard work earned him plenty more. It wasn't his nature to be idle. It wasn't in his character to simply enjoy the fruits of his father's labors, for he considered it irresponsible not to make the money grow that had been entrusted to him.
"He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son." (Proverbs 10:5) As Solomon said in his book of Ecclesiastes, there is a time for every purpose. The wise person will perform the right duties at the right time. Crops which are not harvested at the proper time will rot in the fields, causing hunger when winter comes. A spirit of laziness will tell us it's okay to put things off, but this only leads to bigger problems.
"Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked." (Proverbs 10:6) Those who honor the Lord inherit blessings, while those who dishonor Him are done in by their own violence.
"The name of the righteous is used in blessings, but the name of the wicked will rot." (Proverbs 10:7) Bible scholar Henry Deane uses this example to explain verse 7, "Whoever thinks of naming a child Judas or Nero?" The name of the wicked becomes untouchable. Would we name a child Hitler, for example? Of course not, and in fact it's against the law in many countries to name a child after Hitler. But humans have a tendency to name children after someone they respect and admire, such as a mighty soldier of the faith. Just think how many people over the past several thousand years have named their sons after Moses or Abraham or David. Think of how many people have named their daughters Mary or Esther or Ruth. These are honorable names because they represent honorable people.
There are many things we might leave behind when we depart from this earth, but most of it is temporary and consumable, unlike our good name. Money will be spent by our heirs, and sometimes unwisely. Houses and lands will eventually end up being sold to someone outside the family. Personal items such as clothing tend to get thrown away or donated. Jewelry might be kept by our immediate heirs, but later generations will feel no sentimental value toward these items and will likely sell them. Our good name, though, endures long after all these other things are gone. I'd rather have it said of me, "She loved the Lord and served Him," than to have it said, "She made a lot of money and owned some nice stuff".
What kind of legacy do we want to leave behind? What will influence our descendants the most? What kind of example are we setting? We ought to live in such a way that the use of our name is like a blessing.
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
Counseled By The King: The Proverbs Of Solomon. Day 20, Wisdom And Folly Send Out Invitations
Solomon has told us that wisdom is not hard to find. Neither is folly, otherwise known as foolishness, recklessness, or senselessness. Today we find both wisdom and folly issuing invitations to their houses.
"Wisdom has built her house; she has set up its seven pillars. She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her servants, and she calls from the highest point of the city, 'Let all who are simple come to my house!' To those who have no sense she says, 'Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.'" (Proverbs 9:1-6) Wisdom plans ahead. She makes everything ready for the guests she will invite. She wants to make her banquet as appealing as possible to those who are living wayward lives.
We've already learned that wisdom is eager to be found by the godly who seek her. Today her invitation is to those who have not come looking for her. She asks the simple to come to her house. She invites those who have been living thoughtless and aimless lives. The godly are already seated in her house, having already found her. She doesn't have to send invitations to them. Her invitations are sent to those who have not been seeking her, who are still going about their same old sinful lives. I am reminded of these words of the Lord Jesus, who said, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Luke 5:32) The righteous are already in wisdom's house; it's the sinners she must compel to come in.
While she waits for her guests to arrive, wisdom gives some advice to her godly friends who are waiting with her. "Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever corrects the wicked incurs abuse. Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you. Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning." (Proverbs 9:7-9) She says there is a right way and a wrong way to approach those who are scornful of God. Pointing our fingers at them and telling them what they are doing wrong is not likely to produce happy results. This doesn't mean we aren't to witness to the lost, but it does mean our witness must consist more of actions than of words. We have to be like Jesus. The sinners of Jesus' day were drawn to Him in droves because they saw something in Him they desperately craved: real love. It's a love that says, "I'm making you an invitation and you can come as you are. You can't make yourselves holy. You can't wash your own sins away. You can't robe yourselves in white linen or place crowns of righteousness on your heads. But I can! You don't have to do a thing but accept My invitation. I will do the rest." If we don't have a loving attitude toward the lost, we have no chance of leading them to Christ.
Wisdom states that those who already belong to the Lord, but who have gotten caught up in sin, are to be approached in a different way. A Christian can go privately to his Christian friend and say, "I'm concerned about the direction your life is taking. I love you and I'm worried about you. This type of behavior is not like you." Wisdom says that those who already belong to the Lord will benefit from rebuke and instruction. The wise person will appreciate the friend who comes to him and holds him accountable.
Remember how King David's friend and adviser, the prophet Nathan, came to him privately and rebuked him for his sins? It wasn't until then that David repented. He remained stubborn up to that point, refusing to acknowledge what he had done. But all of David's defenses crumbled when Nathan showed up. It hurt David that Nathan, whom he highly respected, had to come and speak to him about his wrongdoing. He knew Nathan had his best interests at heart. The prophet could easily have turned a blind eye to David's behavior, since David's sins paled in comparison those of the kings of other nations. Other kings committed murder and adultery on a regular basis. But Nathan knew this was not the type of man David was and could say to him, "Remember who you are in the Lord! You are on the wrong path, but you don't have to stay there. Don't you miss feeling close to the Lord? Don't you want to make things right with Him?" There have been times when people close to me have had to give me an attitude adjustment. It hurt, but I knew they were doing it out of love. I couldn't help listening to them because I respected them and I knew they had my best interests at heart. If I live long enough there will no doubt be other instances in which a friend will have to privately come to me and say, "I'm worried about you," and I hope I'm not foolish enough to shut my ears to their words.
It's never pleasant to have someone we love and respect come to us and talk to us about the wrong path we are on, but if we are wise we will heed godly instruction. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer." (Proverbs 9:10-12) Wisdom says, "If you scorn the word of God, you will only have yourself to blame."
Now we move on to the house of folly. She is portrayed as a lazy and sloppy woman. She didn't clean the house. She didn't call the caterers. She didn't order any hand-engraved invitations. She is just lolling about on the porch and yelling loudly at passersby in an unladylike way. "Folly is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing. She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city, calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way, 'Let all who are simple come to my house!' To those who have no sense she says, 'Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!' But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead." (Proverbs 9:13-18)
The invitation of folly is extended to the same crowd as the invitation of wisdom. They both urge the simple to come to their houses. The are targeting the same group. But wisdom is aboveboard while folly is deceitful. The banquet wisdom offers her guests is wholesome and good for body and soul. The banquet folly offers is illicit and sinful. Wisdom says, "I serve nothing but the best! My buffet table holds only that which is good for you. These foods will nourish you body and soul. There is nothing here that will entice you into sin or damage your relationship with the Lord. There is nothing here that will bring you shame or regret." But folly says, "My food is rich and my buffet table is a smorgasbord of carnal delight. Why eat the bread you have earned or that which is freely given to you by God? Why not just take what you want, even if it belongs to someone else? Aren't you tired of the same old spouse day in and day out? Why not sneak around with someone else's husband or wife? Aren't you tired of working hard every week just to earn your measly paycheck? Why not embezzle some funds or cheat someone in a business deal? You deserve more money than you are making and you have a right to the good life! Just go ahead and take what you want. Who is going to know?"
Wisdom's invitation includes this P.S. written clearly in large letters at the bottom, "Leave your simple ways and you will live." Folly's invitation has a hidden P.S. written in invisible ink, "Enter my house and you will die."
"Wisdom has built her house; she has set up its seven pillars. She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her servants, and she calls from the highest point of the city, 'Let all who are simple come to my house!' To those who have no sense she says, 'Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.'" (Proverbs 9:1-6) Wisdom plans ahead. She makes everything ready for the guests she will invite. She wants to make her banquet as appealing as possible to those who are living wayward lives.
We've already learned that wisdom is eager to be found by the godly who seek her. Today her invitation is to those who have not come looking for her. She asks the simple to come to her house. She invites those who have been living thoughtless and aimless lives. The godly are already seated in her house, having already found her. She doesn't have to send invitations to them. Her invitations are sent to those who have not been seeking her, who are still going about their same old sinful lives. I am reminded of these words of the Lord Jesus, who said, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Luke 5:32) The righteous are already in wisdom's house; it's the sinners she must compel to come in.
While she waits for her guests to arrive, wisdom gives some advice to her godly friends who are waiting with her. "Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever corrects the wicked incurs abuse. Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you. Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning." (Proverbs 9:7-9) She says there is a right way and a wrong way to approach those who are scornful of God. Pointing our fingers at them and telling them what they are doing wrong is not likely to produce happy results. This doesn't mean we aren't to witness to the lost, but it does mean our witness must consist more of actions than of words. We have to be like Jesus. The sinners of Jesus' day were drawn to Him in droves because they saw something in Him they desperately craved: real love. It's a love that says, "I'm making you an invitation and you can come as you are. You can't make yourselves holy. You can't wash your own sins away. You can't robe yourselves in white linen or place crowns of righteousness on your heads. But I can! You don't have to do a thing but accept My invitation. I will do the rest." If we don't have a loving attitude toward the lost, we have no chance of leading them to Christ.
Wisdom states that those who already belong to the Lord, but who have gotten caught up in sin, are to be approached in a different way. A Christian can go privately to his Christian friend and say, "I'm concerned about the direction your life is taking. I love you and I'm worried about you. This type of behavior is not like you." Wisdom says that those who already belong to the Lord will benefit from rebuke and instruction. The wise person will appreciate the friend who comes to him and holds him accountable.
Remember how King David's friend and adviser, the prophet Nathan, came to him privately and rebuked him for his sins? It wasn't until then that David repented. He remained stubborn up to that point, refusing to acknowledge what he had done. But all of David's defenses crumbled when Nathan showed up. It hurt David that Nathan, whom he highly respected, had to come and speak to him about his wrongdoing. He knew Nathan had his best interests at heart. The prophet could easily have turned a blind eye to David's behavior, since David's sins paled in comparison those of the kings of other nations. Other kings committed murder and adultery on a regular basis. But Nathan knew this was not the type of man David was and could say to him, "Remember who you are in the Lord! You are on the wrong path, but you don't have to stay there. Don't you miss feeling close to the Lord? Don't you want to make things right with Him?" There have been times when people close to me have had to give me an attitude adjustment. It hurt, but I knew they were doing it out of love. I couldn't help listening to them because I respected them and I knew they had my best interests at heart. If I live long enough there will no doubt be other instances in which a friend will have to privately come to me and say, "I'm worried about you," and I hope I'm not foolish enough to shut my ears to their words.
It's never pleasant to have someone we love and respect come to us and talk to us about the wrong path we are on, but if we are wise we will heed godly instruction. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer." (Proverbs 9:10-12) Wisdom says, "If you scorn the word of God, you will only have yourself to blame."
Now we move on to the house of folly. She is portrayed as a lazy and sloppy woman. She didn't clean the house. She didn't call the caterers. She didn't order any hand-engraved invitations. She is just lolling about on the porch and yelling loudly at passersby in an unladylike way. "Folly is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing. She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city, calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way, 'Let all who are simple come to my house!' To those who have no sense she says, 'Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!' But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead." (Proverbs 9:13-18)
The invitation of folly is extended to the same crowd as the invitation of wisdom. They both urge the simple to come to their houses. The are targeting the same group. But wisdom is aboveboard while folly is deceitful. The banquet wisdom offers her guests is wholesome and good for body and soul. The banquet folly offers is illicit and sinful. Wisdom says, "I serve nothing but the best! My buffet table holds only that which is good for you. These foods will nourish you body and soul. There is nothing here that will entice you into sin or damage your relationship with the Lord. There is nothing here that will bring you shame or regret." But folly says, "My food is rich and my buffet table is a smorgasbord of carnal delight. Why eat the bread you have earned or that which is freely given to you by God? Why not just take what you want, even if it belongs to someone else? Aren't you tired of the same old spouse day in and day out? Why not sneak around with someone else's husband or wife? Aren't you tired of working hard every week just to earn your measly paycheck? Why not embezzle some funds or cheat someone in a business deal? You deserve more money than you are making and you have a right to the good life! Just go ahead and take what you want. Who is going to know?"
Wisdom's invitation includes this P.S. written clearly in large letters at the bottom, "Leave your simple ways and you will live." Folly's invitation has a hidden P.S. written in invisible ink, "Enter my house and you will die."
Monday, June 12, 2017
Counseled By The King: The Proverbs Of Solomon. Day 19, Wisdom Is Power, Part Three
Solomon has been providing us with a number of reasons why it is powerful to possess godly wisdom. Just in case he hasn't convinced us yet, today he will point out that wisdom is the first thing God created. If wisdom is so important that God created it before He created the world, this proves to us how much we need it.
Wisdom says of herself, "I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me." (Proverbs 8:17) Solomon has been telling us that wisdom is not hard to find. He personifies wisdom as a woman who lifts her voice and invites all mankind to learn of the Lord. He portrays her as standing where every path diverges and at every entrance and exit of every town. In other words, we would have to stubbornly cover our ears and shut our eyes in order to avoid her. We can never use the excuse that wisdom was too hard to find.
"With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me and making their treasuries full." (Proverbs 8:18-21) In these verses we are reminded of what the Lord Jesus said when He spoke of the treasures we can store up for ourselves in heaven. Godly wisdom may or may not provide us with riches on earth, but it will provide us with an inheritance no one can ever take from us. Jesus said it was far more important to store up eternal heavenly treasures than to accumulate temporary earthly treasures, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21) It's difficult for someone who is morally and spiritually unwise to make the sensible decisions that cause earthly wealth to accumulate. It's far more difficult, in fact impossible, to store up heavenly treasures without godly wisdom.
I want to stop and make an important point before we look at the remainder of today's passage. Quite a few commentators, scholars, and evangelists have attempted to equate the person of wisdom in the book of Proverbs with the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Up to a point this theory holds, but our current chapter is where it breaks down. First of all, in today's chapter wisdom is said to have been created, and Christ was not created. The Apostle John clearly states that Jesus was with God in the beginning and that Jesus is God and that nothing was created without Jesus. (John 1:1-3) Since Jesus is God, He cannot have been created, because He has always existed. Second, we would have to question why Solomon would choose to present the Son of God as a woman. We would expect him to personify wisdom as a man because he would have expected the coming Messiah to be the king promised to the line of David. In addition, we have observed that wisdom possesses qualities similar to all three persons of the Trinity, and I think this is because wisdom comes from the entire Godhead as a whole, not because wisdom represents Christ or any person of the Trinity. So I must agree with those scholars (and they are many) who hold to the theory that the person of wisdom in the book of Proverbs and the person of Christ are not one and the same. Certainly we cannot obtain godly wisdom without Christ, but Christ is far more than wisdom. He is light, He is salvation, He is hope, He is strength, He is love, He is righteousness......I could go on and on. But in our next section we will see why wisdom and Christ cannot be equal to each other.
"The Lord brought me forth as the first of His works, before His deeds of old; I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be. When there were no watery depths, I was given birth, when there were no springs overflowing with water; before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, before He made the world or its fields or any of the dust of the earth. I was there when He set the heavens in place, when He marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, when He established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, when He gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep His command, and when He marked out the foundations of the earth. Then I was constantly at His side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in His presence, rejoicing in His whole world and delighting in mankind." (Proverbs 8:22-31) If wisdom did not claim to have been created, we could easily apply these verses to Christ, for He was with God before the universe was called forth, before the earth was formed, before any mountain ever rose up, and before any spring ever burst forth. But the Bible tells us that Christ, unlike wisdom, took an active part in the creation as the Word of God.
Godly wisdom has many of the attributes of Christ because she cannot be obtained without Christ. She was created by Him and therefore she looks a great deal like Him.
Wisdom concludes her discourse with this, "Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it. Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord. But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death." (Proverbs 8:32-36) Wisdom says, "The Lord is pleased when you find me, for I will teach you about Him. I will help you to walk in His ways. I will give you power and victory over the things of this world that try to destroy you. God created me before He created the world because He knew that you would need me."
Wisdom says of herself, "I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me." (Proverbs 8:17) Solomon has been telling us that wisdom is not hard to find. He personifies wisdom as a woman who lifts her voice and invites all mankind to learn of the Lord. He portrays her as standing where every path diverges and at every entrance and exit of every town. In other words, we would have to stubbornly cover our ears and shut our eyes in order to avoid her. We can never use the excuse that wisdom was too hard to find.
"With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me and making their treasuries full." (Proverbs 8:18-21) In these verses we are reminded of what the Lord Jesus said when He spoke of the treasures we can store up for ourselves in heaven. Godly wisdom may or may not provide us with riches on earth, but it will provide us with an inheritance no one can ever take from us. Jesus said it was far more important to store up eternal heavenly treasures than to accumulate temporary earthly treasures, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21) It's difficult for someone who is morally and spiritually unwise to make the sensible decisions that cause earthly wealth to accumulate. It's far more difficult, in fact impossible, to store up heavenly treasures without godly wisdom.
I want to stop and make an important point before we look at the remainder of today's passage. Quite a few commentators, scholars, and evangelists have attempted to equate the person of wisdom in the book of Proverbs with the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Up to a point this theory holds, but our current chapter is where it breaks down. First of all, in today's chapter wisdom is said to have been created, and Christ was not created. The Apostle John clearly states that Jesus was with God in the beginning and that Jesus is God and that nothing was created without Jesus. (John 1:1-3) Since Jesus is God, He cannot have been created, because He has always existed. Second, we would have to question why Solomon would choose to present the Son of God as a woman. We would expect him to personify wisdom as a man because he would have expected the coming Messiah to be the king promised to the line of David. In addition, we have observed that wisdom possesses qualities similar to all three persons of the Trinity, and I think this is because wisdom comes from the entire Godhead as a whole, not because wisdom represents Christ or any person of the Trinity. So I must agree with those scholars (and they are many) who hold to the theory that the person of wisdom in the book of Proverbs and the person of Christ are not one and the same. Certainly we cannot obtain godly wisdom without Christ, but Christ is far more than wisdom. He is light, He is salvation, He is hope, He is strength, He is love, He is righteousness......I could go on and on. But in our next section we will see why wisdom and Christ cannot be equal to each other.
"The Lord brought me forth as the first of His works, before His deeds of old; I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be. When there were no watery depths, I was given birth, when there were no springs overflowing with water; before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, before He made the world or its fields or any of the dust of the earth. I was there when He set the heavens in place, when He marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, when He established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, when He gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep His command, and when He marked out the foundations of the earth. Then I was constantly at His side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in His presence, rejoicing in His whole world and delighting in mankind." (Proverbs 8:22-31) If wisdom did not claim to have been created, we could easily apply these verses to Christ, for He was with God before the universe was called forth, before the earth was formed, before any mountain ever rose up, and before any spring ever burst forth. But the Bible tells us that Christ, unlike wisdom, took an active part in the creation as the Word of God.
Godly wisdom has many of the attributes of Christ because she cannot be obtained without Christ. She was created by Him and therefore she looks a great deal like Him.
Wisdom concludes her discourse with this, "Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it. Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord. But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death." (Proverbs 8:32-36) Wisdom says, "The Lord is pleased when you find me, for I will teach you about Him. I will help you to walk in His ways. I will give you power and victory over the things of this world that try to destroy you. God created me before He created the world because He knew that you would need me."
Sunday, June 11, 2017
Counseled By The King: The Proverbs Of Solomon. Day 18, Wisdom Is Power, Part Two
King Solomon reminds us that we aren't victims in this world who are being carried along by fate with no power over anything. There are some things we can't control in life, but there are many things we can control and even change. This is why the Lord Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33b)
Jesus knew we would encounter some circumstances which are outside of our control, but He also knew that the godly wisdom that comes from trusting in Him enables us to overcome and change lots of things. Godly wisdom helps us to live fearlessly, to follow the dreams God has placed in our hearts, and to refuse to conform to the wicked ways of the world. Godly wisdom is power, for it comes from the One who has conquered the world. When He told us to take heart, Jesus was giving us this type of encouragement, "I know there will be days when it seems as if the world has gone mad, and in a way it has, but don't let that stop you. Keep on following Me, keep on trusting Me, and keep on praying to Me. Faith can move mountains! Those who belong to Me never have to feel defeated or discouraged. I have conquered the world and, through Me, you too will conquer the world."
The Apostle Paul affirms what Jesus said. In the eighth chapter of Romans, Paul discusses all the hardships he and many other Christians of the first century endured. But he is not defeated. He is not discouraged, because, "In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:37) We are not ordinary conquerors, we are super-conquerors! We are not soldiers in a worldly army, but mighty warriors in the army of the living God! Paul discovered this awesome truth during the years he walked with the Lord and faced religious persecution, which is why he said, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31b)
We now pick back up where we left off in verse 13 yesterday, "To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech." The super-conquerors in the army of Christ don't possess the distracting qualities of pride and arrogance. These soldiers trust in their Commander, willingly and humbly submitting themselves to His authority. These soldiers also do not concern themselves with gossiping and putting others down and bearing false witness against their fellow man. They know who they are in Christ. They have no need to put others down in order to feel better about themselves. The Son of God died for them; what greater honor could there ever be? Having the Lord say "Well done, good and faithful servant" means more than anything any human being could ever say to them.
As the soldiers of Christ we are to keep our eyes on the prize. We are looking ahead to the finish line of victory. Godly wisdom will help to keep us from being sidelined by poor decisions. "Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power. By me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just; by me princes govern, and nobles---all who rule on earth." (Proverbs 8:14-16)
Wisdom asks, "Do you want to be promoted? Do you want to be placed in a position of power? You are going to need wisdom when you get there." When Solomon became king he quickly realized wisdom was needed to govern the nation of Israel. So he prayed to the Lord, "Now, Lord my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give Your servant a discerning heart to govern Your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?" (1 Kings 3:7-9) We don't know how old Solomon was when the crown was placed on his head. His reference to being only a little child is taken by some scholars to mean he might have been in his late teens. Other scholars think he may have been older but that since he has no political experience he calls himself a little child. Either way, he was intelligent enough to know that a position of power requires wisdom in order to be successful.
If we intend to pray for promotions and success, we ought to follow Solomon's example and pray for the wisdom to handle our promotions and success. The last thing we want to do is is achieve our goals and then make a mess of them. Godly wisdom will help us carry out our duties as a soldier in the Lord's army should. We won't lead anyone to Christ if we set a poor example. No one will be attracted to the Christian life if we don't honor Jesus in everything we do. The world needs to see that Christ is the real deal, and that godly wisdom is the real deal. It has the power to change circumstances. It has the power to change lives.
Jesus knew we would encounter some circumstances which are outside of our control, but He also knew that the godly wisdom that comes from trusting in Him enables us to overcome and change lots of things. Godly wisdom helps us to live fearlessly, to follow the dreams God has placed in our hearts, and to refuse to conform to the wicked ways of the world. Godly wisdom is power, for it comes from the One who has conquered the world. When He told us to take heart, Jesus was giving us this type of encouragement, "I know there will be days when it seems as if the world has gone mad, and in a way it has, but don't let that stop you. Keep on following Me, keep on trusting Me, and keep on praying to Me. Faith can move mountains! Those who belong to Me never have to feel defeated or discouraged. I have conquered the world and, through Me, you too will conquer the world."
The Apostle Paul affirms what Jesus said. In the eighth chapter of Romans, Paul discusses all the hardships he and many other Christians of the first century endured. But he is not defeated. He is not discouraged, because, "In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:37) We are not ordinary conquerors, we are super-conquerors! We are not soldiers in a worldly army, but mighty warriors in the army of the living God! Paul discovered this awesome truth during the years he walked with the Lord and faced religious persecution, which is why he said, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31b)
We now pick back up where we left off in verse 13 yesterday, "To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech." The super-conquerors in the army of Christ don't possess the distracting qualities of pride and arrogance. These soldiers trust in their Commander, willingly and humbly submitting themselves to His authority. These soldiers also do not concern themselves with gossiping and putting others down and bearing false witness against their fellow man. They know who they are in Christ. They have no need to put others down in order to feel better about themselves. The Son of God died for them; what greater honor could there ever be? Having the Lord say "Well done, good and faithful servant" means more than anything any human being could ever say to them.
As the soldiers of Christ we are to keep our eyes on the prize. We are looking ahead to the finish line of victory. Godly wisdom will help to keep us from being sidelined by poor decisions. "Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power. By me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just; by me princes govern, and nobles---all who rule on earth." (Proverbs 8:14-16)
Wisdom asks, "Do you want to be promoted? Do you want to be placed in a position of power? You are going to need wisdom when you get there." When Solomon became king he quickly realized wisdom was needed to govern the nation of Israel. So he prayed to the Lord, "Now, Lord my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give Your servant a discerning heart to govern Your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?" (1 Kings 3:7-9) We don't know how old Solomon was when the crown was placed on his head. His reference to being only a little child is taken by some scholars to mean he might have been in his late teens. Other scholars think he may have been older but that since he has no political experience he calls himself a little child. Either way, he was intelligent enough to know that a position of power requires wisdom in order to be successful.
If we intend to pray for promotions and success, we ought to follow Solomon's example and pray for the wisdom to handle our promotions and success. The last thing we want to do is is achieve our goals and then make a mess of them. Godly wisdom will help us carry out our duties as a soldier in the Lord's army should. We won't lead anyone to Christ if we set a poor example. No one will be attracted to the Christian life if we don't honor Jesus in everything we do. The world needs to see that Christ is the real deal, and that godly wisdom is the real deal. It has the power to change circumstances. It has the power to change lives.
Saturday, June 10, 2017
Counseled By The King: The Proverbs Of Solomon. Day 17, Wisdom Is Power, Part One
We live in a world that sometimes seems out of control. We might feel tempted to throw up our hands and ask whether anything we do really matters. But the person who possesses godly wisdom has no need for such a fatalistic attitude. We are not at the mercy of "fate". We are not powerless to make changes in our lives. Godly wisdom is power! Today Solomon discusses some very practical ways in which wisdom helps us lead productive and successful lives.
"Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; beside the gate leading into the city, at the entrance, she cries aloud: 'To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind.'" (Proverbs 8:1-4) The king says, "You can't excuse your foolishness by claiming wisdom was too hard to find. It isn't. The person who wants godly wisdom can have it. The Lord is close to all who call upon Him. He is eager to teach men and women about righteous living. He will not withhold godly wisdom from anyone who seeks it."
Wisdom, personified here as a woman, continues, "You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it. Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right. My mouth speaks what is true, for I detest wickedness. All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse. To the discerning all of them are right; they are upright to those who have found knowledge." (Proverbs 8:5-11) The wisdom that comes from God can be trusted because God cannot tell a lie. (Titus 1:2) Worldly wisdom can lead us astray. On almost any subject we decide to Google we can find conflicting advice and confusing information. But God's word is one hundred percent trustworthy. It's solid enough to support us our whole lives through. It's powerful enough to get us into heaven.
Wisdom urges us to choose godly wisdom above all other things, even above wealth and fame. "Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her." (Proverbs 8:10-11) Solomon possessed wealth and fame. He was known throughout the ancient world. He was the richest king on earth and even in today's money he would likely take the top spot on the Forbes 500 list. He had more worldly wisdom than anyone who had ever lived, but because he spent most of his life out of fellowship with the Lord, he lacked the godly wisdom that comes with having a relationship with the Creator. So now he knows from experience that it's better to be poor and know the Lord than to be wealthy but spiritually empty.
Many valuable characteristics are developed in the person who has godly wisdom. "I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion." (Proverbs 8:12) As we studied earlier in the week, wisdom empowers us to think before we act. When we look up the word "discretion" in the thesaurus we find out that the person who has it gives attention to what he is doing. He is mature and responsible. He is vigilant, careful, and cautious. He considers all the potential consequences before taking action. He is shrewd, thoughtful, and possesses good common sense. Who doesn't want these qualities? Qualities such as these will help us avoid making many a terrible decision. The one who lacks godly wisdom is like the foolish youth we've studied for the past two days. He was the type of person who simply goes with the flow, who lives in the moment, and who doesn't think ahead to the potential consequences of his sin.
We will conclude today's passage with this beautiful statement, "To fear the Lord is to hate evil." (Proverbs 8:13a) We cannot love the One who is goodness and light and perfection and righteousness without hating His polar opposite, which is evil. We can easily test ourselves and our love for the Lord by pondering on whether we find it easy to sin against Him, for the Lord Jesus said, "If you love Me, keep My commands." (John 14:15) Of course we will never achieve perfection as long as we live in these human bodies on this fallen world, but if we examine our hearts and realize we are finding it far too easy to sin against the Lord, and especially if our consciences don't trouble us about it, then we have drifted too far from Him. Solomon is a good example of this. He appears to have begun his reign in the right spirit. He prayed a very humble and sincere prayer at the dedication of the temple. But he gradually drifted away from the Lord into sin and his conscience became so hardened that his sin didn't trouble him. It was only after the emptiness of his heart drove him into deep depression and despair that he came to his senses and realized that he would never find satisfaction in a life that didn't include the Lord.
If you're feeling empty and dissatisfied today, maybe it's because you haven't spent any quiet time with the Lord lately. I know from experience that this is often the cause of my depression. When I start to feel aggravated at every little thing, or when there's a restlessness in my spirit, it's because I've been too busy doing all sorts of other things and ignoring time with the Lord. It's so easy in our busy world to prioritize other things above spending time with God, but the truth is that we will have a better handle on everything else if we make Him our number one priority. If we keep the Lord in His proper place in our lives, everything else will fall into its proper place. We will have a sense of security and confidence at the core of our being. We will have peace in our hearts. We will be better able to organize other aspects of our lives when we keep God in the number one spot.
"Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; beside the gate leading into the city, at the entrance, she cries aloud: 'To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind.'" (Proverbs 8:1-4) The king says, "You can't excuse your foolishness by claiming wisdom was too hard to find. It isn't. The person who wants godly wisdom can have it. The Lord is close to all who call upon Him. He is eager to teach men and women about righteous living. He will not withhold godly wisdom from anyone who seeks it."
Wisdom, personified here as a woman, continues, "You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it. Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right. My mouth speaks what is true, for I detest wickedness. All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse. To the discerning all of them are right; they are upright to those who have found knowledge." (Proverbs 8:5-11) The wisdom that comes from God can be trusted because God cannot tell a lie. (Titus 1:2) Worldly wisdom can lead us astray. On almost any subject we decide to Google we can find conflicting advice and confusing information. But God's word is one hundred percent trustworthy. It's solid enough to support us our whole lives through. It's powerful enough to get us into heaven.
Wisdom urges us to choose godly wisdom above all other things, even above wealth and fame. "Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her." (Proverbs 8:10-11) Solomon possessed wealth and fame. He was known throughout the ancient world. He was the richest king on earth and even in today's money he would likely take the top spot on the Forbes 500 list. He had more worldly wisdom than anyone who had ever lived, but because he spent most of his life out of fellowship with the Lord, he lacked the godly wisdom that comes with having a relationship with the Creator. So now he knows from experience that it's better to be poor and know the Lord than to be wealthy but spiritually empty.
Many valuable characteristics are developed in the person who has godly wisdom. "I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion." (Proverbs 8:12) As we studied earlier in the week, wisdom empowers us to think before we act. When we look up the word "discretion" in the thesaurus we find out that the person who has it gives attention to what he is doing. He is mature and responsible. He is vigilant, careful, and cautious. He considers all the potential consequences before taking action. He is shrewd, thoughtful, and possesses good common sense. Who doesn't want these qualities? Qualities such as these will help us avoid making many a terrible decision. The one who lacks godly wisdom is like the foolish youth we've studied for the past two days. He was the type of person who simply goes with the flow, who lives in the moment, and who doesn't think ahead to the potential consequences of his sin.
We will conclude today's passage with this beautiful statement, "To fear the Lord is to hate evil." (Proverbs 8:13a) We cannot love the One who is goodness and light and perfection and righteousness without hating His polar opposite, which is evil. We can easily test ourselves and our love for the Lord by pondering on whether we find it easy to sin against Him, for the Lord Jesus said, "If you love Me, keep My commands." (John 14:15) Of course we will never achieve perfection as long as we live in these human bodies on this fallen world, but if we examine our hearts and realize we are finding it far too easy to sin against the Lord, and especially if our consciences don't trouble us about it, then we have drifted too far from Him. Solomon is a good example of this. He appears to have begun his reign in the right spirit. He prayed a very humble and sincere prayer at the dedication of the temple. But he gradually drifted away from the Lord into sin and his conscience became so hardened that his sin didn't trouble him. It was only after the emptiness of his heart drove him into deep depression and despair that he came to his senses and realized that he would never find satisfaction in a life that didn't include the Lord.
If you're feeling empty and dissatisfied today, maybe it's because you haven't spent any quiet time with the Lord lately. I know from experience that this is often the cause of my depression. When I start to feel aggravated at every little thing, or when there's a restlessness in my spirit, it's because I've been too busy doing all sorts of other things and ignoring time with the Lord. It's so easy in our busy world to prioritize other things above spending time with God, but the truth is that we will have a better handle on everything else if we make Him our number one priority. If we keep the Lord in His proper place in our lives, everything else will fall into its proper place. We will have a sense of security and confidence at the core of our being. We will have peace in our hearts. We will be better able to organize other aspects of our lives when we keep God in the number one spot.
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